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Fall Pre-College Programs

Fall portfolio-building programs for high school students interested in art and design.

Stamps Pre-College Programs now include Fall after-school and weekend studios, events, and workshops! Our virtual and in-person programs are offered to current high school students (grades 9 – 12) interested in building new skills for their creative pursuits, improving their portfolios, and learning more about U‑M’s Stamps School of Art & Design.

Registration for Fall 2023 is now closed. Please sign up for more info on our upcoming programs.

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Program Details

Fall Studios

Fall Studios provide opportunities for deep dives into different areas of art & design. Faculty will lead students in learning new techniques during studio sessions, and provide lectures, demonstrations, and feedback to support covered material. 

Virtual, twice-weekly afternoon programs include 2D Visualization, 4D Animation, and Drawing for Artists & Designers; in-person weekend workshops include Drawing Fundamentals, Watercolor Painting, and Relief Printmaking.

  • Drawing for Artists & Designers (Virtual)
    Virtual Studio for grades 9-12

    The ability to draw is essential for all practicing artists and designers. In Drawing for Artists & Designers, students will learn drawing concepts fundamental to contemporary art and design practice. Students will gain knowledge and experience in a variety of approaches, ranging from observational to experimental drawing. Each class session is structured as studio time, giving students ample opportunity to build their drawing skills and apply new concepts. Lectures, demonstrations and slides will enhance covered material.

    Drawing for Artists & Designers meets online on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Two sessions of this program will be offered:

    Session 1: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 4-5:30 pm ET from October 3-26, 2023
    Session 2:     Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5:30-7 pm ET from October 3-26, 2023

    • Modality: Virtual
    • Dates: Oct. 3-26, 2023
    • Day: Tuesdays & Thursdays
    • Cost: $245.00 (this program fee includes instructional materials. Please note that we will not ship instructional materials internationally. A non-refundable $50 drop fee is also included in this program fee).
  • 2D Visualization (Virtual)
    Virtual Studio for grades 9-12

    2D Visualization is an online class introducing students to fundamental visualization skills used by artists and designers when working creatively in two dimensions. Students will gain familiarity and hands-on experience with a variety of two-dimensional practices and media.

    This online class is designed to introduce content synchronously and asynchronously. This format will give students opportunities to get direct feedback from their instructor and time to build their skills and to apply new concepts. Lectures, demonstrations and slides will enhance covered material.

    2D Visualization meets online Mondays and Wednesdays from 4-5:30 pm for a total of eleven sessions.

    • Modality: Virtual
    • Dates: Oct. 3-26, 2023
    • Day: Tuesdays & Thursdays
    • Time: 4-5:30 pm ET
    • Cost: $245.00 (this program fee includes instructional materials and shipping costs. Please note that we will not ship instructional materials internationally. A non-refundable $50 drop fee is also included in this program fee).
  • 4D Animation (Virtual)
    Virtual Studio for grades 9-12

    4D Animation is an online class introducing students to techniques used by artists and designers when working creatively with the fourth dimension, time. Students will learn the fundamentals of working with time by exploring basic audio, video and animation techniques that can easily be used at home to make creative work. This online class is designed to introduce content synchronously and asynchronously. This format will give students opportunities to get direct feedback from their instructor and time to build their skills and to apply new concepts. Lectures, demonstrations and slides will enhance covered material.

    4D Animation meets online Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-7 pm ET for a total of eight sessions.

    • Modality: Virtual
    • Dates: Oct. 3-26, 2023
    • Day: Tuesdays & Thursdays
    • Time: 5:30-7 pm ET
    • Cost: $245.00 (this program fee includes instructional materials. Please note that we will not ship instructional materials internationally. A non-refundable $50 drop fee is also included in this program fee).
  • Weekend Workshop: Drawing Fundamentals (In-Person)
    In-Person Studio for grades 9-12

    The ability to draw is essential for all practicing artists and designers.

    In Weekend Workshop: Drawing Fundamentals, students will learn drawing concepts fundamental to contemporary art and design practice. Students will gain knowledge and experience in a variety of approaches, ranging from observational to experimental drawing. Each class session is structured as studio time, giving students ample opportunity to build their drawing skills and apply new concepts. Lectures, demonstrations and slides will enhance covered material.

    Weekend Workshop: Drawing Fundamentals meets on Saturdays from 9:30-12:30 pm ET for a total of four sessions. This class will meet in-person at the Stamps School of Art & Design.

    • Modality: In-Person
    • Dates: Oct. 7-28, 2023
    • Day: Saturdays
    • Time: 9:30-12:30 pm ET
    • Location: Stamps School of Art & Design
    • Cost: $295.00 (this program fee includes instructional materials. Please note that we will not ship instructional materials internationally. A non-refundable $50 drop fee is also included in this program fee).
  • Weekend Workshop: Watercolor Painting (In-Person)
    In-Person Studio for grades 9-12

    In Weekend Workshop: Watercolor Painting, students will learn concepts and techniques fundamental to watercolor painting. Students will gain experience using this material to explore composition, color and working from direct observation. Each class session is structured as studio time, giving students ample opportunity to build their watercolor painting skills. Lectures, demonstrations and slides will enhance covered material.

    Weekend Workshop: Watercolor Painting meets on Saturdays from 9:30-12:30pm for a total of four sessions. This class will meet in-person at the Stamps School of Art & Design.

    • Modality: In-Person
    • Dates: Oct. 7-28, 2023
    • Day: Saturdays
    • Time: 9:30-12:30 pm ET
    • Location: Stamps School of Art & Design
    • Cost: $295.00 (this program fee includes instructional materials. Please note that we will not ship instructional materials internationally. A non-refundable $50 drop fee is also included in this program fee).
  • Weekend Workshop: Relief Printmaking (In-Person)
    In-Person Studio for grades 9-12

    Weekend Workshop: Relief Printmaking is an in-person class that introduces media and methods associated with relief printmaking. Class demonstrations introduce making and printing images in color from a variety of relief surfaces and cover a range of single and multi-plate methods. Through hands-on projects, students engage print concepts such as multiplicity, serialization, and sequence. Each class session is structured as studio time, giving students ample opportunity to build skills and apply new concepts. Lectures, demonstrations and slides will enhance covered material.

    Weekend Workshop: Relief Printmaking meets on Saturdays from 9:30-12:30pm for a total of four sessions. This class will meet in-person at the Stamps School of Art & Design.

    • Modality: In-Person
    • Dates: Oct. 7-28, 2023
    • Day: Saturdays
    • Time: 9:30-12:30 pm ET
    • Location: Stamps School of Art & Design
    • Cost: $295.00 (this program fee includes instructional materials. Please note that we will not ship instructional materials internationally. A non-refundable $50 drop fee is also included in this program fee).

Fall Events

Fall Events are single session opportunities for in-person creative practice. 

Explore the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor with a series of in-person Drawing on Campus sessions, held at a four different U‑M museums. Each week, participants will gain insider knowledge about a museum through a guided tour, then will practice their observational drawing skills while working directly from the museum’s collection. These programs are ideal for students with varied interests; art, botany, history, archeology, paleontology, and more. Participants are welcome to register for just one program or all four.

Students with an interest in galleries, curation, and contemporary artwork are invited to explore the contents of three new exhibitions in our Stamps Gallery Workshop.

  • Drawing on Campus: Matthaei Botanical Gardens (In Person)
    In-Person Event for grades 9-12

    In this session of our Drawing on Campus program, you will practice drawing skills in the conservatory of the Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Drawing time will be accompanied with a guided tour of the plants displayed in the conservatory. This program will not only help you elevate your technical skills, but will also introduce participants to the plant diversity and biomes represented in this living museum. Perfect for an aspiring naturalist!

    • Modality: In-Person
    • Date: Oct. 7, 2023
    • Day: Saturday
    • Time: 1-3:30 pm ET
    • Location: Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1800 N. Dixboro Rd. Ann Arbor, MI
    • Cost: $40.00 (this program fee includes instructional materials and security deposit)
  • Drawing on Campus: University of Michigan Museum of Art (In Person)
    In-Person Event for grades 9-12

    In this session of our Drawing on Campus program, you will practice drawing skills in the galleries of the University of Michigan Museum of Art. Drawing time will be accompanied with a guided tour of the museum’s current exhibitions. This program will not only help you elevate your technical skills, but will also introduce participants to UMMA's rich collection of art and design, spanning prehistory to contemporary works.

    • Modality: In-Person
    • Date: Oct. 14, 2023
    • Day: Saturday
    • Time: 1-3:30 pm ET
    • Location: University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA), 525 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI
    • Cost: $40.00 (this program fee includes instructional materials and security deposit)
  • Drawing on Campus: Kelsey Museum of Archeology (In Person)
    In-Person Event for grades 9-12

    In this session of our Drawing on Campus program, you will practice drawing skills in the galleries of the Kelsey Museum of Archeology. Drawing time will be accompanied by a guided tour of the museum’s exhibitions. This program will not only help you elevate your technical skills, but will also introduce participants to 1,500 artifacts of Classical, Egyptian, and Middle Eastern archaeology on permanent display at the Kelsey.

    • Modality: In-Person
    • Date: Oct. 21, 2023
    • Day: Saturday
    • Time: 1-3:30 pm ET
    • Location: Kelsey Museum of Archeology, 434 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI.
    • Cost: $40.00 (this program fee includes instructional materials and security deposit)
  • Drawing on Campus: U-M Museum of Natural History (In Person)
    In-Person Event for grades 9-12

    In this session of our Drawing on Campus program, you will practice drawing skills in the U-M Museum of Natural History. Drawing time will be accompanied with a guided tour of the museum’s exhibits and interactive spaces. This program will not only help you elevate your technical skills, but will also inspire curiosity with exhibits that explore the natural world from molecules to mastodons.

    • Modality: In-Person
    • Date: Oct. 28, 2023
    • Day: Saturday
    • Time: 1-3:30 pm ET
    • Location: University of Michigan Museum of Natural History, 1105 N University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI.
    • Cost: $40.00 (this program fee includes instructional materials and security deposit)
  • CANCELED - Stamps Gallery Workshop: Art & Resistance (In Person)
    In-Person Event for grades 9-12

    Note: The Fall 2023 Stamps Gallery Workshop: Art & Resistance event has been canceled.

    Do you have a passion for museums and galleries? Are you interested in a career in museum curation? In Stamps Gallery Workshop: Art & Resistance, Stamps Gallery staff will introduce participants to three Fall 2023 exhibitions:

    • The Blessings of the Mystery
    • Matika Wilbur Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America
    • Respond/ Resist/ Rethink: An Exhibition of Student Art for Change

    Through discussion and collaborative exercises, participants will explore the content of each exhibition. With guidance from Gallery and Pre-College staff, participants will decode the concept behind the artworks on display.

    Participants will also be introduced to the field of museum and gallery curation. Learn about the considerations made by gallery staff as they organize world class exhibitions of contemporary art & design. We hope you join us for this special insider visit to the Stamps Gallery!

    • Modality: In-Person
    • Date: Nov. 4, 2023
    • Day: Saturday
    • Time: 1-3:30 pm ET
    • Location: Stamps Gallery, 201 S Division St, Ann Arbor, MI
    • Cost: $40.00 (this program fee includes instructional materials and security deposit)

Fall Workshops

A series of free, virtual Fall Workshops offer students and parents in-depth opportunities for learning and advice on the entire college process, from getting started with your application and portfolio (Application Prep), to learning about the opportunities available after graduation (Career Connections) and getting a real look at life as a working artist (Narratives Through Clay).

  • Application Prep (Virtual)
    Virtual Workshop Series for grades 9-12

    Let’s get your application ready! Application Prep is a series of virtual workshops led by the Stamps Admissions team. This program is designed to introduce students to Stamps’ Admissions standards, focusing on a variety of topics including: personal essays, portfolio preparation, and overall application strategy.

    In Application Prep, Admissions team members will walk participants through the important elements of application preparation. These workshops will help students feel confident as they press “submit” on their college application and offer strategies for how they can showcase their best work and unique perspective.

    Application Prep meets at 5-6 pm ET on Wednesdays from October 4-25, 2023 for a total of four sessions.

    • Modality: Virtual
    • Dates: Oct. 4-25, 2023
    • Day: Wednesdays
    • Time: 5-6 pm ET
    • Cost: Participation in Application Prep is free.
  • Career Connections (Virtual)
    Virtual Event Series for parents and students grades 9-12

    You’re a parent with a talented student and they have their heart set on applying to art school - how will they use an art and design degree to pursue a career in the field?

    Hosted by recent Stamps alumni, our virtual Career Connections series will introduce families to a wide array of creative careers that can be attained with an art and design degree. This professional development series will demystify the art and design field and demonstrate how a Stamps degree will help your student reach their full potential after graduation.

    Career Connections meets online at 6-7:30 pm ET on Wednesdays from October 11-25, 2023 for a total of three sessions. All sessions are free of charge.

    Session 1: Stamps Alumni Panel
    Wednesday,     Oct. 11, 2023, 6-7:30 pm ET
    In this virtual panel discussion, recent Stamps graduates will discuss their creative careers and how Stamps helped to prepare them. This event will aim to demystify careers in the art & design field and illustrate how a Stamps degree can help students reach professional goals following graduation.

    Session 2: Art + Biz
    Wednesday,     Oct. 18, 2023, 6-7:30 pm ET
    Stamps alum Rose Jaffe will introduce students to the business side of art and design. How do we monetize our passions in a way that feels fulfilling and intentional? What are some solid advice nuggets to carry with you as you start your freelance or entrepreneurial journey? Is starting your own art business even right for you? We will explore these topics and more in this workshop about the intersection of art and business!

    Session 3: Creating With Emerging Tech
    Wednesday,     Oct. 25, 2023, 6-7:30 pm ET
    Stamps alum Beatriz Lozano will introduce the latest AR & AI technologies and their current uses in the creative world. As well as hold an open discussion on the ethics, benefits, and future of these emerging technologies. The students will each create an AI prompt that will be run through Midjourney to generate their artwork. Using those AI creations as a starting point, the students will then create a new unique artwork in the media of their choice.

    • Modality: Virtual
    • Dates: Oct. 11-25, 2023
    • Day: Wednesdays
    • Time: 6-7:30 pm ET
    • Cost: Participation in Career Connections is free.
  • Narratives Through Clay (Virtual)
    Virtual Event Series for parents and students grades 9-12

    Do you have an interest in ceramics? Do you want to learn more about what it means to be a working artist? Students and parents interested in ceramics and sculpture are welcome to attend this special virtual workshop.

    Narratives Through Clay will dive into an artist's studio practice and navigate through clay techniques, processes, and how to contextualize art making. Artist Joanna Powell will walk through her process in detail as she demonstrates hand-building techniques, surface decoration, and glazing processes. This workshop will be divided into an artist lecture and demonstration, giving participants the opportunity to engage in two consecutive days of clay and conversation.

    Please note that this program is not a STUDIO workshop. Participants will not actively create ceramic work during Narratives Through Clay.

    Artist Lecture
    Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, 7-8:30 pm ET
    In this virtual lecture, artist Joanna Powell will present her work and studio practice.

    Workshop
    Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, 4-6 pm ET
    In this virtual workshop, artist Joanna Powell will demonstrate ceramic hand-building techniques, surface decoration, and glazing processes.

    • Modality: Virtual
    • Dates: Oct. 20-21, 2023
    • Cost: Participation in Narratives Through Clay is free.

Application Information

Eligibility

  • Our Fall 2023 Pre-College programs, events, and workshops are open to all current high school students in grades 9 – 12.

    Deadlines

    Required Application Materials

    • A 250-word personal statement is required for all Pre-College Program applications.
      Start Your Application

      Scholarships

      Scholarships are available to select students who have registered for Pre-College Programs and Events. A limited number of full and partial awards will be provided to students who demonstrate need and merit.

      Questions?

      Please contact us with any questions about our Pre-College programs.